Track bikes are the best bikes for crit racing – 1. They require skill to ride fast. You can't simply be athletically fit. Just like on a motorcycle or racecar you have to choose your braking point and turn-in carefully. Hitting a precise apex of the corner is critical to have a fast exit speed. If you misjudge a corner you can quickly run out of road into the bales, strike a pedal, or get dropped. – 2. They are simple and beautiful yet highly technical. Gear ratios and tire pressure must be considered carefully for each circuit. Do you want to just hang on, go in the break, or win a sprint? These all require different settings. – 3. Because of the skill required the peloton is stretched out throughout the race. You don't see a tightly bunched field circling until a sprinter emerges at the end. The fastest and most aggressive riders are always at the front and visible. – 4. A $500 bike can easily be as fast as a $4000 bike. The teams and manufacturers may show up with the flashiest equipment but it isn't required. All you need is a solid frame that fits, good tires, the correct gear ratio and the legs. – 5. They are fun to ride fast on the edge of control! – #redhookcrit #rhcm9 – Ph: @philpenman